Dental dam



Oct. 6, 1964 R. v. ARRoYo 3,l5l,394

DENTAL DAM Filed Feb. 1, 1963 INVENTOR.

waze/*0 1/. Aeem United States Patent O 3,151,394 DENTAL DAM Roberto Vazqnez Arroyo, Fasaje Continental 14, Cindad Jnarez, Chihuahua, Mexico Filed Feb. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 255,469 4 Ciaims. (Ci. 32-35) This invention relates to a dental appliance and more particnlarly to an appliance to be positioned in the month of a patient to facilitate the work of a dentist on the patienfs teeth.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character comprised of a pair of longitndinally curved Channels connected at one end by a bridge, the channels being adapted to contain pieces of cotton, which are customarily cnt in the form of relatively short cylindrical members, for the purpose of absorbing Saliva, and at the same time spacing the lower lip away from the gnm and the teeth to be treated.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a device provided with an onter channel which is adapted to be positioned between the teeth and the lip interiorly of the month, and a second channel adapted to be positioned inside the month behind the teeth, each channel containing a piece of absorbent cotton, and the Channels being connected at one end by a bridge to which -is attached a tongue gnard or defiector, which prevents the tongue from contacting and moistening the teeth being treated.

A fnrther and more specific object of the invention is the provision of a device of this Character which may be made arcnate or concave to either the right or the left, so as to fit either side of the patient's month, and wherein the bridge positioned at the center, serves additionally to prevent complete closnre of the month.

A further and more specific object of the invention is the provision of such a device having a light in the bridge so as to illuminate the teeth being treated.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction.

Other objects will in part be obvions and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanying drawing wherein there are shown preferred embodiments of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of one form of appliance constrncted in accordance with this invention, in positioning over the teeth of a patient, the latter being indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 s a side elevational view of the device of FIGURE 1 as viewed from the interior side or the side normally positioned within the month, cotton cylindrical members being shown dotted.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the construction of FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken snbstantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 as viewed in the direction indicate'd by the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a modified form of construction incorporating a light in the bridge piece, the construction of FIGURE 5 being adapted for the left hand side of the month, in contrast to that of FIGURE 3 or opposite thereto; and

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of an articl e or appliance similar to that of FIGURE 5, but constrncted to fit in the right side of `the month.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughont the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, and more particnlarly to FIGURES 1 to 4, one form of device constrncted in accordance with the instant invention is ice generally indicated at 10, and is of plate like material comprised of an outer channel member 11, an inner channel member 12, a bridge 13 connecting the channel members, and a tongue guard or deflector 14.

The device 10 is preferably comprised of resilient compressible material, such as rubber, to conform readily to the patient's month and provide a minimum of discomfort.

The onter channel member 11 is arcnate longitudinally or in plan view, as best shown in FIGURE 3, and also arcnate transversely as best seen in elevation in FIGURE 1. Channel member 11 is adapted to fit snngly between the gnms G supporting the lower teeth T and the lower lip L, and has positioned therein a cotton pellet C which is adapted to absorb saliva, the pellet being of the type normally employed by dentists in such position and for a similar pnrpose, but the pellet itself rather than the channel normally serving to space the lip from the gnm. Inner channel 12 is similarly arcuate, conforming in confignration to channel 11 both transversely and longitudinally, but is slightly shorter in extent, and is adapted to contain a similar cotton pellet C for the purpose of absorbing moisture interiorly of the month. In conventional practice, such an interior pellet cannot be used, since there is nothing normally to hold it in position.

Bridge 13 is, as best shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, relatively thick, and serves as a support to prevent 'the upper teeth closing on the lower teeth during work thereon.

Extending from the top of bridge 13 in a smooth integral cnrve to the ontter edge of inner channel member 12 the tongue guard or defiector 14 overlies the end of the inner cotton pellet, and serves to prevent the tongue T' from contacting the teeth which are being 1treated. As is well known, under certain circumstances, moistnre preclndes proper treatment of teeth, and such moisture is imparted to the teeth as the tongue comes in contact with them. Additionally, the tongue may impede the dentistts work, and it is, therefore, desirable that it be maintained out of the way with the least possible discomfort to the patient.

By virtne of the arrangement described, the dentist is free to work on the lower teeth on either side of the month, in accordance with the construction of the appliance, with cotton saliva absorbing pellets positioned on either side of the teeth and gums being treated, and with the tongue precluded from coming into contact with the teeth upon which the dentist is working.

In the illnstrative embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 to 4 an appliance for treating the teeth on the right side of the month is shown, the channel members 11 and 12 extending interiorly of the month and the bridge 13 being snbstantially centrally positioned. It will be obvious, however, 'that by reversing the curvatnre of the channels 11 and 12 and by positioning the bridge at the opposite end a substantially identical but reversed article may be employed for the left side of the month.

In FIGURE 5, for example, there is shown a modified form of the invention wherein Channels 11a and 12a are curved for the opposite side of the month. This modification is substantially identical to that previonsly shown except that the bridge 13a may be slightly thicker, if desired, and is provided with a recess 16 into which fits a socket 17 for a small light bnlb 18. A cord 1h extends out of a suitable opening Z in the side of the bridge, -and extends out of the patienfs month to any suitable source of electric current, so that the teeth being treated may be adequa'tely illnminated. A similar device is disclosed in FIG- URE 6, but in this instance the cnrvature of the channels is opposite, for treatment of the right hand side of the month. This embodiment of the invention discloses a bridge 13b connecting channel members 11b and 12b, with a recess 161) containing a socket 17h for a light 18h, the light 1817 being supplied with current by means of a cord 19h extending through an opening 201) in the side of bridge 131:. It is to be noted that the bridge per se extends to the inner side of each of the channel members 11 and 12, and that the ltongue guard or deflector 14 extends to the outer side of the inner channel member 11.

The device of the instant invention may be made of any desired material, although a relatively soft, resilient material, such as rubber, or a suitable resilient or deformable plastic may be employed in order to impart maximum comfort 'to the patienfs month, as well as facilitate the moving of the appliance within the patient's mouth for the convenience of the dentist.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is hcrein provided an improved dental appliance, which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodirnents may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiments hereinhefore shown and described, it is `to be understood that all matter herein lis to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: w

1. A dental appliance of resilient and deformable platelike material, for use in the mouth, comprised of a pair of horizontal and spaced apart open top inner and outer longitudinal extending channels, each having an axis which is convex outwardly in plan view to generally correspond to the line of teeth,

the Vertical transverse cross-section of each channel being U-shaped with Vertical top legs and of an overall height approximately equal to the overall width between said legs,

each of said Channels in use thus being adapted to cornpressably receive short cylindrical members of cotton for the purpose of absorbing saliva, and the outer cylinder member also spacing the lower check away from the gum and the teeth to be treated,

the adjacent legs of the channels being so spaced apart as to hug the side face of the gurns on each side of a plurality of lower teeth When the appliance is in use, a bridge of inverted U -shape as viewed in Vertical crosssection, oriented perpendicularly to the axes of the channels as viewed in plan, andat a front end of each of said Channels, the legs of said bridge merging smoothly with the closer pair of legs of said channels, the clear height of said bridge above said channels being substantially equal to the overall height of said Channels, the width of the bridge in a direction parallel to said channel ends being approximately equal to the overall width of the bridge as seen in Vertical cross-section, whereby in use the bridge completely overlies a tooth,

and a tongue guard extending horizontally as seen in Vertical cross-section from the full extent of the top of said bridge by a smooth externally convex curve to said innermost Vertical leg of the inner channel, and merging smoothly, as seen in longitudinal elevation, from the back of the top of said bridge to a horizontal 'top of said innermost leg by a smooth curve,

Whereby the patienfs tongue is prevented from contacting and moistening the teeth to be treated, the latter teeth being located adjacent said bridge and between said channel members when the appliance is in use. i

2. T he structure of claim 1 wherein said outer channel is of greater longitudinal length than said inner channel,

`and both Channels have smoothly rounded rear ends as viewed in plan.

3. The structure of claim 1, Wherein the top of said bridge is relatively thiclrer' than the remaining portions of the appliance to thus serve better as a support in preventing the upper teeth from closing on the lower teeth during work thereon.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein the bridge is provided with horizontal recess means oriented parallel to the channels and midway between the latter as seen in plan,

a socketed light bulb within the recess,

and a cord for connection to an external source of electricity extending from said light and through the outer leg of said bridge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED sTArEs PA'ri-:Nrs 

1. A DENTAL APPLIANCE OF RESILIENT AND DEFORMABLE PLATELIKE MATERIAL, FOR USE IN THE MOUTH, COMPRISED OF A PAIR OF HORIZONTAL AND SPACED APART OPEN TOP INNER AND OUTER LONGITUDINAL EXTENDING CHANNELS, EACH HAVING AN AXIS WHICH IS CONVEX OUTWARDLY IN PLAN VIEW TO GENERALLY CORRESPOND TO THE LINE OF TEETH, THE VERTICAL TRANSVERSE CROSS-SECTION OF EACH CHANNEL BEING U-SHAPED WITH VERTICAL TOP LEGS AND OF AN OVERALL HEIGHT APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO THE OVERALL WIDTH BETWEEN SAID LEGS, EACH OF SAID CHANNELS IN USE THUS BEING ADAPTED TO COMPRESSABLY RECEIVE SHORT CYLINDRICAL MEMBERS OF COTTON FOR THE PURPOSE OF ABSORBING SALIVA, AND THE OUTER CYLINDER MEMBER ALSO SPACING THE LOWER CHEEK AWAY FROM THE GUM AND THE TEETH TO BE TREATED, THE ADJACENT LEGS OF THE CHANNELS BEING SO SPACED APART AS TO HUG THE SIDE FACE OF THE GUMS ON EACH SIDE OF A PLURALITY OF LOWER TEETH WHEN THE APPLIANCE IS IN USE, A BRIDGEOF INVERTED U-SHAPED AS VIEWED IN VERTICAL CROSSSECTION, ORIENTED PERPENDICULARLY TO THE AXES OF THE CHANNELS AS VIEWED IN PLAN, AND AT A FRONT END OF EACH OF SAID CHANNELS, THE LEGS OF SAID BRIDGE MERGING SMOOTHLY WITH THE CLOSER PAIR OF LEGS OF SAID CHANNELS, THE CLEAR HEIGHT OF SAID BRIDGE ABOVE SAID CHANNELS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE OVERALL HEIGHT OF SAID CHANNELS, THE WIDTH OF THE BRIDGE IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO SAID CHANNEL ENDS BEING APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO THE OVERALL WIDTH OF THE BRIDGE AS SEEN IN VERTICAL CROSS-SECTION, WHEREBY IN USE THE BRIDGE COMPLETELY OVERLIES A TOOTH, AND A TONGUE GUARD EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY AS SEEN IN VERTICAL CROSS-SECTION FROM THE FULL EXTENT OF THE TOP OF SAID BRIDGE BY A SMOOTH EXTERNALLY CONVEX CURVE TO SAID INNERMOST VERTICAL LEG OF THE INNER CHANNEL, AND MERGING SMOOTHLY, AS SEEN IN LONGITUDINAL ELEVATION FROM THE BACK OF THE TOP OF SAID BRIDGE TO A HORIZONTAL TOP OF SAID INNERMOST LEG BY A SMOOTH CURVE, WHEREBY THE PATIENT''S TONGUE IS PREVENTED FROM CONTACTING AND MOSITENING THE TEETH TO BE TREATED, THE LATTER TEETH BEING LOCATED ADJACENT SAID BRIDGE AND BETWEEN SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS WHEN THE APPLIANCE IS IN USE. 